The most common reporting verb for an interrogative sentence (a question) is ask.
When converting a direct speech question into reported speech, you need a verb to introduce the reported question. As noted in grammatical references, the most common reporting verb for questions is ask. However, other verbs can also be used depending on the nuance you wish to convey.
Common Reporting Verbs for Questions
Beyond ask, other reporting verbs are frequently used for questions. Based on the provided reference, these include:
- enquire
- want to know
- wonder
These verbs help to report the act of questioning or expressing curiosity about something.
Examples in Reported Speech
Here are examples showing how different reporting verbs are used to report questions from direct speech.
| Direct Speech | Reporting Verb | Reported Speech |
|---|---|---|
| "Are you ready?" | ask | He asked if I was ready. |
| "What time is it?" | ask | She asked what time it was. |
| "Did you bring your passports?" | want to know | She wanted to know if they'd brought their passports. |
| "Where is the station?" | enquire | They enquired where the station was. |
| "Will they come?" | wonder | I wondered if they would come. |
As shown in the table, the structure often changes slightly when reporting a question. You typically don't use question marks in reported speech, and the word order usually reverts to a subject-verb order as in a statement (e.g., what time it was instead of what time was it?).
Choosing the Right Reporting Verb
While ask is versatile and always correct for reporting a question, choosing verbs like enquire, want to know, or wonder can add more specific meaning.
- Ask: The standard verb for any question.
- Enquire: Often used in slightly more formal contexts.
- Want to know: Emphasizes the speaker's desire for information.
- Wonder: Suggests the speaker is asking themselves or expressing doubt/curiosity without necessarily expecting an answer from the listener immediately.
Understanding these reporting verbs is key to accurately transforming direct speech questions into reported speech.
